In his first start of the season, Lockett slammed two home runs and knocked in five runs. The second shot was a no-doubter, The Eagle wrote. The first wasn't.
"I thought the first one was just a double or a triple," Lockett told The Eagle afterward. "I didn't stop running till I heard the people yelling and clapping. I didn't know what was going on."
Lockett may have moved into his home run trot that night after hearing the cheers, but he didn't stop running in his career for six more seasons. In all, Lockett played a decade as a pro. He made it as high as AAA, but he never got to make the majors.
Lockett's career began in 1990, taken by the Phillies in the eighth round of the draft out of Jackson State University.
Lockett started with the Phillies at rookie Princeton. The first baseman got into 63 games and hit .310. He also hit six home runs and stole 11 bases.
He moved to high-A Clearwater for 1991 and made AA Reading in 1992. He hit .266, with 10 home runs at Clearwater, then .228 at Reading.
Lockett returned to Reading for 1993. He hit .242 that year, with 11 home runs. In an April game, he knocked a game-winning, bases-loaded double against London. Not long after, Lockett picked up three hits, four RBI and a home run in a televised game against Harrisburg.
Lockett then moved up to AAA Scranton for 1994. Early on, Lockett knocked a home run and an RBI double in a game to start the year strong.
"I'm feeling a lot more comfortable at the plate this year," Lockett told The Wilkes Barre Times Leader after that April game. "Right now, I'm hitting good."
In 90 games overall there, Lockett ended up hitting .228, with five home runs. One home run came on the final home game of the season, a ninth-inning shot to tie the game. It was his final season in affiliated ball.
Lockett continued his career in 1995 in independent ball with the Albany Diamond Dogs in the Northeast League. He hit .282 over 54 games that first year at Albany.
The next year, Lockett served as team captain and hit .314, helping power his team to the league title. He went 3 for 5 in the title-clinching game, with a home run.
"I knew if I got us started, I think guys would follow behind me," Lockett told The Schenectady Daily Gazette afterward. "I feel like a hundred pounds lighter."
Lockett continued in the league over the next three seasons. Overall, Lockett played with Albany from 1995 to 1998 and then again in 1999. In between, he played with Elmira. His 1999 season marked the end of his career.
- Reading Eagle, April 18, 1993: Ron Lockett powers Reading over Mets, 12-5
- Wilkes Barre Times Leader, April 17, 1994: Lockett's not missing a beat as AAA hitter
- Schenectady Daily Gazette, Sept. 2, 1996: Dogs rout Hawks, cruise to NEL title, Part 2
Players/Coaches Featured: 2,695
Made the Majors:1,031-38.3%
Never Made Majors:1,664-61.7%
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 426
10+ Seasons in the Minors:263
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